Crocker-Stearns connector boosts business

WESTLAKE -- After nearly 25 years of waiting, the Crocker-Stearns connection is finally open and bringing new traffic and people to the western portion of Cuyahoga County while bolstering business at two booming shopping locations.

Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough and North Olmsted Mayor Thomas O'Grady were thrilled at the December opening of the road that links Interstate 480 and Interstate 90 from north to south -- the first and only connection in the area.

"The connection is very close to the Lorain County line so not only has it made transportation far easier for our residents but for our neighboring counties as well," O'Grady said.

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As part of the project, North Olmsted widened Stearns Road to four lanes, putting the existing single family homes closer to the busy thoroughfare. The city has already started the Crocker-Stearns Gateway Project, which includes rezoning and redeveloping Stearns Road south of Lorain Road. O'Grady said he hopes to put "residential-friendly" businesses there.

"Since the day this started, I have said the project will have the greatest impact on citizens that live on Stearns," O'Grady said. "They have known that this was coming and have accepted it."

Once the properties are rezoned, O'Grady said he is hopeful homeowners will be able to sell their properties at a profit. As part of the Crocker-Stearns Gateway Project, there are plans to "flare out" Stearns Road as it approaches Lorain Road. There will not, however, be development on Stearns Road north of Lorain Road, he said.

As people travel south to north on the connector, they enter Westlake, where Clough said there will be minimal development because most of the land belongs to the Cleveland Metro Parks. A new entrance to the Bradley Road Metro Park is already in the works.

The new 35 mph road will encourage people to visit the area and make it easier than ever to access the two cities' major shopping destinations.

O'Grady said the road has already encouraged traffic to Westfield Great Northern Mall and Great Northern Towne Centre. Clough has seen similar benefits for Westlake's Crocker Park.

"We recognized early that it was something important for retail and business but also important to the quality of life," O'Grady said. "In addition, our side streets are going to last longer and our streets will be safer for our children." Clough and O'Grady agreed the connector could never have happened without the teamwork of local, county and state officials. Once voters approved the project many years ago, officials secured additional grants to bring the road to its completion.

"This is a significant road for all the western suburbs and the eastern part of Lorain County," Clough said. "This also opens up the rest of Westlake and Crocker Park. It is now our main road that leads to Crocker Park or what we like to call our Lifestyle Center."

Crocker Park, which includes a variety of shops, restaurants, apartments, homes, businesses and a movie theater, continues to be a viable amenity in the city of Westlake. Several new stores have moved into the shopping complex despite others leaving. Among the newest tenants are Apple, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and DSW Shoes. Vieng's Asian Bistro, which replaces Claddagh Irish Pub, opened Friday, and the Buckle, a new clothing store going in next to the Apple store, is opening soon.

Clough said currently all the apartments located above the stores are at capacity.

"The idea is to make it a convenient place to work, shop and live all in the same location," Clough said.

Other businesses that have recently moved in to Crocker Park are the University of Phoenix and KeyBank.

"It's still viable and still growing," Clough said. "We tend to believe when the economy takes a downturn people stay closer to home to shop. It's also a very attractive and desirable place to be, whether going to a movie or getting dessert at the chocolate factory or shopping for clothing."

While Crocker Park continues to thrive, the city of Westlake continues to look for ways to make accessing its amenities even easier. The next project on the list is the widening of Hilliard Boulevard from Westlake High School to the intersection at Crocker Road.

"We want to make it even easier to get to that connection," Clough said, adding the work will start later this year. "Westlake continues to grow despite the economic downturn, it's just at a slower pace."